Arabian Journal of Chemistry (Nov 2022)

Analysis of hair components by nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging

  • Shu Taira,
  • Hitomi Shikano,
  • Nobuyuki Takahashi

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 11
p. 104205

Abstract

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Using a vertical hair-slice section, we compared the components of normal and damaged hair regions using two ionization methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization (Nano-PALDI) mass spectrometry. Nano-PALDI is useful for small-molecule and high spatial resolution (5 μm) analyses due to the lack of noise. Thus, clear images were obtained from thin hair samples. In Nano-PALDI mass spectrometry imaging, cystine and 18-methyleicosanoic acid as endogenous hair components localized in the cuticle and cortex and cuticle of normal hair, respectively. In contrast, both components were absent in damaged hair.

Keywords